This has been an amazing year for our BCS scholars and employees. Thanks to everyone who has been is committed to success and focused on making it happen for the more than 20,000 students who entered our schools every day.
I am particularly excited about the graduating class of 2023. These students received more than 50 million in scholarship offers. We also have the largest number of students this year who have qualified to receive support from the Birmingham Promise. This program, launched in 2020, provides tuition scholarships for BCS graduates attending two-year or four year public institutions in Alabama.
This school year has been a year of achievement in sports and academics. The Ramsay Football team captured the 5A title. Other schools competed in post season play in several sports. We also saw tremendous growth in our younger athletes through middle school and elementary school sports.
In the classroom, the trend for increases in academic achievement continued throughout the district. The number of schools on the state’s failing schools list decreased by 35%, based on the spring 2022 state assessments. We look forward to another good report from the spring 2023 assessments.
We are fortunate to have community partners to assist in reaching our achievement goals. They work along with our full-time educators and staff to ensure that scholars receive the needed resources and guidance to achieve.
Also this year, we continued robust building and facilities updates. We recently cut the ribbon on the newly renovated auditorium at Phillips Academy. The Woodlawn Colonels will play their games in a brand new campus football stadium. And students at Huffman Middle School will have a new cafeteria, gym and upgrades to classrooms. We’ve also enhanced safety and security throughout the district.
We’re looking forward to seeing all of scholars in summer intersession, beginning June 14th. Students who have not registered should contact their school. Intersession helps our scholars remain ahead. And for some, it provides an opportunity to catch up in advance of the school year.
August 7th will be here soon. It’s time now to prepare, because our goal is to be ready on Day One. That means all scholars should register for the new school year so that resources can be in place on the first day.
Have a great safe summer – Birmingham City Schools. Success Starts Here.